Domestic appliance



Feb. 23, 1965 L. J. MARTINIAK 3,170,743

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed April 1e, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l l @w f lNvEzgTogl Feb 23, 1965 l.. J. MARTINIAK DOMESTIC APPLIANCE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 18, 1963 INVENTO @award J, arzzzak NIW Ill I IIIIHIIIIIPLHI III United States Patent O 3,170,743 DMESTICAPPLIANCE p Leonard l. Martiniak, Waukesha, Wis., assignor to v general Electric Company, acorporationo New .orh

Filed Apr. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 273,867 4 Claims. (Cl. S12-13) This invention relates to dishwashers and, in particular, to a condensing system to condense moisture out ofthe warm vapors which' issue from the dishwasher during the washing and, drying operations thereof.

`The` invention has particular applicability to dishwashers of the domestic type used in residence'kitchens. `The escape of steamy vapors in such Vinstallations can bel .the front opening type iriwhich the closure dooris oper-k ablefbetweelnj a sttbstantially',vertical closed` position and i a substantially: horizontal openl position.

ItV is 'a"further object ofthefinvention to provide. a condensing'systemffor a dishwasher having a door hinged ll'id Fatented Feb. 23, i965 Vation of al dishwasher, with the door closedv and a side panel of' the dishwasher partially broken away; i

i FlG.`2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the ydoor' handle and'condenser 'structure or" the dishiCC ship `therebetween;

FIGJS is a fragmentary front elevation of the door and condenser structure, locking in the direction of the arrows 3,-3'of' FIG. 2 so as particularly to show the drainage boot in front elevation; i

' FIG.V 4 is a perspective'view of the assembled condenser structureg'and FlG. 5 is an exploded perspective view `o1? the dishwasher trim panel and associated condenser elements.,y

Referring to FIG. l, 'a dishwasher'of the undercounter type includes an open front ltub 1 having upper and lower racks 2, 3, a Vwater distribution system d, anda door 5 which-is hinged at'its bottom to bev swung'between the substantially vertical clos'edip'osition of FIG. l Vand a substantially horizontal open position (not shown). The door is' arranged to be latclid closed 'by means of a` combination'latching and switchingdevice (not shown), it being understood that conventional 'gasket'means 5a is usedto sealtheclosed door against water leakage during dishwasher operation.V This'basic dishwasher structure is very old in the art and, is not to be viewed in any limiting sense as respects the present invention. The

to be swungabout a horizontal axis, said condensing i system having means minimizing the drippage'of water l y from 'the`condenser ducting system in the event the dishwasherdoor is opened during a washing or rinsing cycle,

or immediately/fatter thecoinpletionof the nal rinsing y operationl p n a "In Va presently preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to afdishwasher door in which inner andv outer panels define a hollow"structure, La box-like^ trim lpanel having an` upperV trim `strip of inverted channel shape, extends across ,the upperportion of the outer panel of the door.l This'trim' strip actually constitutes the handle for the door. A condenser system is mounted within the Vtrim panel near one end thereof; the condenser elements perse are housed within the trim strip and are protected thereby. The condenser structure comprises a V-shaped comb-like element within which is nested a second `V-shaped condenser element. This second element intercepts the air issuing from the tub, provides Va'coridensingV surface lon which is condensed at least .a part of the moisture content of the air, and di- Ve'rits-thre airfinto contact with the condensing surfaces providedl bythe comb-like structure. A duct within the door. communicates between the interior of the tub and the condenser. The base of the V-shaped condenser portion is within the outlet of the dnct, whereupon condensation will drop from theV condenserinto the duct return to the tub.V i Y Under some circumstances, aswhen the dishwasher door'i's opened during a washing or rinsing operation, or immediately aftertheinal rinsing operation, water drops on the inside of the duct may not have had timeto drain `bach into the tub, and water drops may remain on the condenser. To prevent escape of residuall water which may been the duct walls, I provide, on the inside of the duct, a `,baiiie which intercepts water ow; and a large part of residual condensate on the condenser elements willv be caught-.within the channel shaped trim strip.

In the accompanying drawings, FG- l is a side elesfragmentarily illustrated dishwasher of FIG.r 1' may be,

for' example, ofthe type disclosed in Warhus US. Patent No. 3,064,664y which issued November 20, 19624, for Dishwashing Machine. As noted therein, the water vcirculation; systemincludes the motor-driven pump 6 and Avalve-provided drainage system`7. A suitable combination late-hing device and switch may be as shown in Jellies US. Patent 3,005,065, granted October 17, 196i,

Y for Domestic Applicances. Each of these patents is assigned to the assignee of this application.

The dishwasher 4door comprises an `inner door panel 8 andan outer door panel 10 (FIG. 2) suitably secured to each` other to vform a hollow door structure. The relatively, deep .upper 4portion of said hollow structure may accommodate a conventional time cycle device 11 (FIG. 1).

The door structure is provided with a trim and vapor condensation assembly 12 which, among other things, includes an easily grasped handle by means of which the door may be drawnV to open position or returned to closed position.A As best shown in'F'lG. 5, the trim structure isi composite, including a trim panel 14 havingtheA rearwardly directed base harige 15 and the angularly upwardly and rearwardly directed top ilange 15. An end cap 17 completes each end of the upper trim panel; said caps are coniigurated to accommodate the ends of the panel and are providedwith tabs Zi) to which door panel elementsmay be attached.

' As shown in FIG..5, the upper flange 16 of the trim plate has a cut-out 21 for the accomodation of the condensing system later described, a cut-out 22 for the previously described latch and switch combination, and an opening 23 to accommodate the control dial (not shown) ofthe time cycle mechanism.

The trim structure further includes ya trim handle 24 of channel formation. That i`sthe trim'handle has a rear tiahge 25,a front flange 26, and a `top "wall 27. As

best shown in FIG. l2, there is a snbstantial space 2S between the lower edge of ilange 26 and theiilange 16 of the top Vof the trim panel 1d. Atany place to the Aright of the cut-ontZZ, as viewed in FIG.` 5',y the user 'of the appliance can insert his fingers into the space so that they engage the rear of the handle `wall 26, and placinghis thumb against the front of said wall, have a firm grip on the handle to open or close the door.

It is well known that dishwasher manufacturers recommend a water temperature of at least 150 F. for the washing and rinsing operations. Water at this temperature gives out substantial amounts of vapor, particularly when it is considered that the water distribution mechanism of the dishwasher is producing a violent water action within the tub during the washing and rinsing operations. It is also well known that among the advantages of dishwashers is that of permitting the dishes to dry as they remain in the tub following the final rinse. This last consideration requires that the tub be vented to the ambient-which is that of the kitchen in which the dishwasher is installedso that the moisture evaporating from the articles can escape from the tub. In dishwashers not equipped with vapor condensing systems, water vapor passes freely out into the kitchen, and because the trim panels and their accessories are usually much cooler than the issuing vapors, condensation occurs on these parts. A frequent source of customer complaint is that this condensing moisture drips onto the kitchen iioor.

The present invention provides a condenser system which reduces the amount of water vapor entering the room and returns condensate to the dishwasher tub.

The condenser structure comprises a first V-shaped plate 29 and a second V-shaped plate 3i), each of corrosion resistant metal such as stainless steel. kAsbest appears in FIG. 1, the plate 29 is nested within plate 30; plate 30 has end walls, such as walls 31, FIG. 2, having cut-out portions which receive the ends of the plate 29. Embosses 32 engage the inner faces of walls 31 to establish plate 29 therebetween. Plate 30 is a comb-like structure in which there are a plurality of teeth 33 spaced one from the other a distance substantially greater than the width of the teeth It will be observed in FIG. 2 that the front longitudinal edge 34 of plate 31 terminates in a longitudinal hook-like formation 35, said formation intertting with the bead or rail 36 at the base of the front wall of the handle 24. The respective elements 29 and 30 are inherently resilient in a transverse direction. The assembled members 29 and 3) are slid into position through the adjacent open end of the handle, whereupon the hook portion 35 is snug against the bead 36, and the rear wall portion 37 of member 30 is in firm surface contact with the rear wall 25 of the handle. The V-shaped member 29 is in contact with the end walls 31 of member 30, and is in edge contact with the top wall 27 of the handle 24. In such relationship a heat transfer condition exists between the condenser elements 29 and 30, and the handle 24.

The duct communicating between the dishwasher tub and the door is advantageously an assembly of a molded phenolic sleeve 40 and a exible duct or boot 41. Sleeve 40 is rigid and is formed with a top marginal wall 42 which provides a slot 43 for the reception of edge portions of the trim panel wall defining the cutout 21; Vthis arrangement allows for sliding sleeve 40 into place from the rear of the trim panel 14, and securement in position when the panel is assembled with the adjacent door panel. The lower end portion of the sleeve 4t) fits snugly within the upwardly opening end portion 44 of the boot 41, said boot being sufliciently elastic to accommodate this interitting relationship. The end portion 44 of the boot 41 communicates with a lateral passage defined by the lateral body portion 45. Said body portion is provided with a ange 46 defining the boot inlet opening. As best shown in FIG. 2, a compression plate 47 has a neck 48 telescoping into the boot, and a rim 50 overlying the flange 46. The plate 47 is held in position by a saddle 51 fixed to a baffle plate 52 which is substantially larger in area than the inlet opening of the boot, and is arranged to intercept and deflect water action within the tub and thus prevent direct entry of water into the boot.

Moist air issuing from the boot 41 and duct 40 comes first into contact with the surfaces of the condenser member 30 and gives up some of its moisture by condensation on the teeth 33 thereof. Upward flow of vapor through the structure 30 impinges on the condenser element 29 and is divided by the apex thereof, so that both of the external surfaces of said element 29 are operable as condenser areas.

The handle 24 has a large heat capacity and substantial area exposed to the relatively cooler air of the kitchen. Heat iiow to this handle from the elements 29 and 30, maintains these elements at condensing temperature. A further advantage deriving from the V-shaped condenser element 29 is that it will deflect some of the moist air forwardly against the adjacent wall 26 of the handle, whereupon this wall area also forms a prime condensing surface. Water'condensing on this wall area will be intercepted by the hook portion 35 of the condenser element 30, and iiow down along the teeth 33 to drip from the apex 33a thereof. As appears in FIG. 2, the apexes of the condenser elements 29 and 30 are within the area of the open top of duct 40, whereupon moisture condensing out on the surfaces of the elements 29 and 30 will drip into the duct 40 and ow by gravity into the boot 41 for return to the tub.

In the usual operation of a dishwasher, the door remains closed for a substantial time after the completion of the entire washing and drying cycle. Because of this, any water remaining on condenser elements and on the interior surfaces of the ducts 40 and 41 will be evaporated before the dishwasher door is opened for the removal of the washed and dried dishes. There are times, however, when the dishwasher door is opened during the dishwashing or rinsing cycle, or immediately after the final rinse. At that time there may be residual water on the interior walls of the condensing and ducting system, and such water would be relatively free to drip through the condensing system onto the tioor. To circumvent this, I provide abafe 53 which extends across the portion 44 of the boot 41, immediately beneathy the sleeve 40. In such an open door situation, which can be visualized by rotating FIG. 2 counterclockwise through 90, the front wall of the boot portion 44 slopes downwardly to the left, and the baffle 53 provides a dam having a height sufficient to intercept a substantial amount of condensation. There may also be drops of condensate on the condenser member 29 and the inner surfaces of the condenser teeth 33. In substantial measure, this condensate will gather within the pocket defined by the inner surface of the front wall 26 of handle 24, said wall being arcuate so as to present a concave shallow basin with the door in its open position.

While there has been described what is at present thought to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that modifications may be made therein and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dishwasher having a tub and a closure door therefor; the combination comprising a vapor condenser secured to said door at the upper portion thereof and an air and vapor conduit for conducting moisture-laden air from said tub to said condenser, said conduit extending downwardly and rearwardly from said condenser; said condenser including an elongated V-shaped comb of good heat conduction material, the base of said comb being disposed wholly within the outlet end of said conduit; and a V-shaped baffle structure of good heat conduction material within said comb in the path of air issuing from said conduit, the base of said baliie structure being above the base of said comb, said door having an opening to ambient formed therein in communication with said passed into said condenser.

2. 'In a dishwasher having a tub and a closure door therefor; the combination comprising a vapor condenser at the upper portion of said door and an air and vapor conduit within said door for conducting moisture-laden air from said tub to said condenser, said conduit extending downwardly and rearwardly from said condenser when the door is in closed position; said condenser including an elongated channel member of good heat transfer material extending laterally of said door, an elongated V-shaped comb of good heat conduction material having elongated Wall means in heat transfer relation to said channel member, said comb being disposed within said channel member with the base of said comb within the outlet end of said conduit, and a V-shaped baie structure of good heat conduction material within said comb in the path of air issuing from said conduit, the base of said baiiie structure being above and forwardly of the base of said comb, said door having an opening to ambient formed therein in communication with said condenser thereby to for conducting moisture-laden air from said tub tosaid i condenser; said conduit extending downwardly and rearwardly from said condenser when the door is in closed position; said condenser includingan elongated channel member of good heat transfer material extending laterally of said door, said channel member having a substantial area exposed lto the ambient air, an elongated V-shaped comb of good heat conduction material in heat transfer relation to said channel member, said comb beingV disposed .within said channel member with the base of said comb wholly within the outlet end of said conduit, and a V-shaped baffle structure of good heat conduction material Within said comb in the path ofair issuing from said conduit, the base of said ba'le structure being coextensive with said comb and above and forwardly of the base of said comb, said door having an opening formed therein beneath said channel member in commtuiication with said condenser thereby to permit the escape of air after it has passed into said condenser.

4. In a dishwasher having a tub and a closure-door therefor; the combination comprising a vapor condenser at the upper portion of said door and an air and vapor conduit within` said door and communicating with said tub for conducting moisture-laden air from said -tub to said condenser, said conduit extending downwardly and rearwardiy from said condenser when the door is in closed position and downwardly and forwardly toward its discharge `end when the door is in open position, said condenser including an elongated metallic channel member extending laterally of said door and having a substantial area exposed to ambient air, an elongated V- shaped comb of good heat conduction material having elongated wall means in heat transfer relation to said channel member, the base of said comb being disposed within said channel member with the base of said comb wholly within the outlet end of said conduit, a V-shaped baffle structure of good heat conduction material Within said comb in the path of air issuing from said conduit, lthe base of said baiiie structure being above and forwardly of the base of said comb, and a dam-forming structure exten-ding transversely Within said conduit adjacent the discharge end thereof to intercept the dow of residual liquid toward said discharge end when the door is in its open position, said door having an opening formed therein beneath said channel member in communication with said condenser thereby to permit the escape of air after it has passedinto saidV condenser. f

References Cited by the Examiner Y UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,635,941 4/53 Stoddard 220-10 X 2,871,082 l/59 Karig 312-213 3,075,337 1/63 Andreae -55-446 FRANK B. SHERRYPrmary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

1. IN A DISHWASHER HAVING A TUB A CLOSURE DOOR THEREFOR; THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A VAPOR CONDENSER SECURED TO SAID DOOR AT THE UPPER PORTION THEREOF AND AN AIR AND VAPOR CONDUIT FOR CONDUCTING MOISTURE-LADEN AIR FROM SAID TUB TO SAID CONDENSER, SAID CONDUIT EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND REARWARDLY FROM SAID CONDENSER; SAID CONDENSER INCLUDING AN ELONGATED V-SHAPED COMB OF GOOD HEAT CONDUCTION MATERIAL, THE BASE OF SAID COMB BEING DISPOSED WHOLLY WITHIN THE OUTLET END OF SAID CONDUIT; AND A V-SHAPED BAFFLE STRUCTURE OF GOOD HEAT CONDUCTION MATERIAL WITHIN SAID COMB IN THE PATH OF AIR ISSUING FROM SAID CONDUIT, THE BASE OF SAID BAFFLE STRUCTURE BEING ABOVE THE BASE OF SAID COMB, SAID DOOR HAVING AN OPENING TO AMBIENT FORMED THEREIN IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CONDENSER THEREBY TO PERMIT THE ESCAPE OF AIR AFTER IT HAS PASSED INTO SAID CONDENSER. 